The Spanish government abruptly announced it would grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of migrants staying in the country without going through formal procedures. The move contrasts with major Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy, which are stepping up crackdowns on illegal immigration.
According to El País on the 27th (local time), the Socialist government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has enabled undocumented migrants already living in Spain to apply for temporary residence permits through a royal decree. The government said it made the decision for economic and social stability, as migrant workers account for a large share in agriculture, tourism and care.
Under the royal decree, undocumented migrants who entered before December last year and have stayed in Spain for at least five months can apply for temporary residence permits from April to June. Those with criminal records are excluded, and if granted, they can stay and work legally for one year. The system also applies to accompanying children, and the permit period can be renewed.
Elma Saiz, Minister of Migration, stressed at a news conference that "this measure will affect social cohesion, public welfare and, further, the overall economy." Saiz said "about 500,000 people are expected to benefit," adding, "we will use this opportunity to bring those who worked in the shadows into the formal system."
In fact, migrants from Latin America and Africa are believed to be working in large numbers in Spain's service sector. According to the economic think tank Funcas, the undocumented migrant population was estimated at about 840,000 as of early last year, accounting for one-third of non-EU migrants in Spain. The European Central Bank (ECB) has assessed that foreign workers are easing Spain's chronic labor shortages and contributing to economic growth.
The decision is also seen as clearly contrasting with the anti-immigration stance spreading across the West. Recently, under the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has carried out large-scale raids, and the United Kingdom has significantly tightened its asylum screening rules. Greece has mandated criminal penalties if those whose asylum applications are rejected continue to stay, and Italy is reportedly pursuing a plan to house asylum seekers in Albania during screening.
Cecilia Villaseñor, a researcher at the Comillas Pontifical University Institute for Migration Studies, said, "In an international environment where anti-immigration discourse is growing stronger, Spain's decision appears to provide a counterbalance," adding that "an approach that views migrants as an asset rather than a crisis is meaningful."
This is not the first time Spain has implemented inclusive policies for undocumented migrants. Previously, the Spanish government carried out large-scale regularizations more than eight times since the mid-1980s, and more than 1 million undocumented migrants are estimated to have benefited in total. The government says this measure is also a structural choice that takes into account labor market trends and social integration, not a short-term event.
Meanwhile, the opposition is strongly opposing the royal decree. Alberto Feijóo, leader of the People's Party (PP), Spain's main opposition, criticized the government for using immigration to cover up controversy over responsibility for a recent major train accident. The far-right Vox party slammed it as "a measure that accelerates an invasion" and said it would file a constitutional challenge with the Supreme Court.